AU2019100103A4 - A system and method for delivering in-app content using mobile messaging - Google Patents

A system and method for delivering in-app content using mobile messaging Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2019100103A4
AU2019100103A4 AU2019100103A AU2019100103A AU2019100103A4 AU 2019100103 A4 AU2019100103 A4 AU 2019100103A4 AU 2019100103 A AU2019100103 A AU 2019100103A AU 2019100103 A AU2019100103 A AU 2019100103A AU 2019100103 A4 AU2019100103 A4 AU 2019100103A4
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Prior art keywords
content
user
mobile device
smartphone
request
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AU2019100103A
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Paul Colby
Grant Rule
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Message 4u Pty Ltd
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Message 4u Pty Ltd
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/955—Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/60—Software deployment
    • G06F8/61—Installation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
    • H04W4/14—Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
    • H04L41/0803—Configuration setting
    • H04L41/0806—Configuration setting for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

A method for delivering in-app content to a smartphone user, comprising: determining a request for in-app content by a user of the smartphone; sending a mobile message to the smartphone, the mobile message containing a unique URL to a site maintained by a proxy service and wherein the unique URL is associated with at least one of (a) an identifier for the user; and (b) an identifier for the requested content; responsive to the smartphone accessing the URL, the proxy service: determines the user and/or requested content from an evaluation of the unique URL; determines one or more handset capabilities for the requesting smartphone; and generates re-direct code based on the determined user/content and handset capabilities and communicates the re-direct code to the requesting smartphone, the re-direct code containing instructions executable by the smartphone for invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the smartphone user. 6/6a Figure 1

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING IN-APP CONTENT USING MOBILE
MESSAGING
The invention is described in the following statement:
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 .
Field of invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for delivering “inapp” content to a smartphone user via mobile messaging.
Background of invention
Smartphones are being increasingly used in place of traditional computing devices to receive and view electronic content. One convenient technique for delivering electronic content to a smartphone user is via mobile messaging, such as SMS (Short Message Service), RCS (Rich Communication Services), online chat, or over-the-top services (e.g. Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.). More particularly, a hyperlink to the electronic content (e.g. stored on a remote server) can be included in the mobile message. The hyperlink can be readily selected by the smartphone user for accessing and subsequently presenting the content via a browser on the smartphone.
In some instances, it is desirable to present the electronic content within a mobile application. However, if the application is not already resident on the smartphone, the user must first take steps to download and install the application before the content can be delivered. This increases the time and complexity of the content delivery process, which detracts from the attractiveness of facilitating content delivery via mobile messaging.
Summary of invention
In accordance with a first aspect there is provided a method for delivering electronic content to a user of a mobile device, comprising: determining a request for in-app content by a user of the mobile device, the request being received via a digital communications channel; sending a response to the user’s smartphone via the digital communications channel, the response containing a URL to a site maintained by a proxy service and wherein the URL is associated with at least one of (a) an identifier for the user; and (b) an identifier for the requested content; responsive to the mobile device accessing the URL, the proxy service: determines the user and/or requested content from an evaluation of the URL; determines one or more mobile device capabilities for the requesting mobile device; and communicates re-direct code that is based on the determined user/content to the requesting mobile device, the re-direct code containing instructions executable by the mobile device for
3.
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the mobile device user.
In an embodiment the re-direct code comprises instructions for smartphone to download the specified portion of the mobile application via an API call.
In an embodiment the method further comprises inferring the one or more mobile device capabilities from code sent by the mobile device when accessing the site.
In an embodiment the mobile device is a smartphone.
In an embodiment the method further comprises receiving an in-app content SMS request from the smartphone, the in-app content request being sent to an MSISDN maintained by the proxy service and wherein receipt of the in-app content SMS triggers the determination for in-app content.
In an embodiment the method further comprises determining the request for in-app content based on a predefined response given by the user in an online conversation.
In an embodiment the online conversation is facilitated by a chatbot.
In accordance with a second aspect there is provided a system for delivering electronic content to a mobile device user, the system comprising: a proxy service configured to: determine a request for in-app content by a user of the mobile device, the request being received via a digital communications channel; sending an response to smartphone over the same digital communications channel, the response containing a unique URL to a site maintained by a proxy service and wherein the unique URL is associated with at least one of (a) an identifier for the user; and (b) an identifier for the requested content; responsive to determining that the mobile device has accessed the site, determine the user and/or requested content from an evaluation of the unique URL;
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 .
determine one or more device capabilities for the requesting mobile device; and communicate re-direct code to the requesting mobile device, the re-direct code being based on both the determined user/content and device capabilities, and containing instructions executable by the mobile device for invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the mobile device user.
Brief description of drawings
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure. 1 is a schematic of a system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure. 2 is a schematic showing a process flow of a re-direct method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
Figure. 3 is a flow chart setting out a process flow, in accordance with an embodiment.
Detailed description
Embodiments of the invention described herein relate to a system and method for delivering in-app content to a smartphone user via mobile messaging. As used herein, the term “in-app content” will be understood as referring to content presented within a mobile application that has been invoked by the smartphone.
More particularly, embodiments make use of a proxy service that, through a mobile messaging process, causes requested content to be presented on a requesting user’s smartphone. The content is presented within a selected page of a mobile application that is automatically invoked by the smartphone without requiring prior installation thereof. In addition, the proxy service implements a mobile messaging service (such as SMS messaging, a virtual chat service on behalf of the content provider, etc.), via which the request for content may be triggered.
5.
2019100103 31 Jan 2019
It will be understood that the in-app content may have an associated functionality, such as for completing an e-commerce transaction, making a booking, or any other desired functionality as specified by the content publisher. Embodiments may advantageously be combined with the two-pass token based secure delivery methodology as outlined in copending Australian application No. 2018101015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Equally embodiments may be advantageously combined with the biometric access methodology as outlined in co-pending Australian patent application No. 2018101656, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference.
Figure 1 depicts an example system architecture in which embodiments of the present invention can be implemented. As illustrated, the system 1 includes a proxy service 2, a content originator 4 and a smartphone user 6 operating a smartphone 6a. One or more application stores 7a to 7n (such as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store) maintain mobile applications (and portions thereof) for delivering content for access by the smartphone user 6.
According to embodiments described herein, the proxy service 2 is implemented independently of the content originator 4 (i.e. and as such is operating as a third-party proxy service provider). The smartphone user 6 may, for example, be a customer or potential customer of the content originator 4.
Still with reference to Figure 1, the proxy service 2 implements a web service 10 (and more particularly a web server 14) that is capable of hosting one or more re-direct pages that can be linked to one or more unique URLs. The web service 10 is also communicable with a database 13 storing re-direct links to in-app pages stored by the app stores 7a to 7n that are configured to provide predefined content for the content originator 4.
The proxy service 2 may implement a SMS messaging service and/or chat service for communicating with the smartphone user 6. In an alternative embodiment, the proxy service 2 may also provide a widget for downloading with webpage content (or as part of a chat widget integrated into a website) operated by the content originator 4, for facilitating communications with the smartphone user 6. As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, the widget may include appropriate computer program code (e.g. in one example form
6.
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 comprising JavaScript code) that causes the smartphone 6 to communicate with the proxy service 2 as part of a request for content on the content originator’s webpage/chat/etc/.
The content originator 4 subscribes to a re-direct service implemented by the proxy service 2. As part of this service, the content originator 4 may be allocated an MSISDN that can be used for SMS communications with the smartphone user 6. In addition, or as an alternative, the proxy service 2 may facilitate a virtual chat service (such as a natural language processing chatbot service) on behalf of the content originator 4, or alternatively provide the content originator with a widget as discussed above. It will be understood that the smartphone user 6 can request content from the content originator 4 via any one of these digital communication channels. Receipt of the request triggers a re-direct transaction to be implemented by the proxy service 2, as will now be described in more detail. By way of example, the content originator 4 may be a travel booking operator and the smartphone user 6 may be looking to book a holiday with the travel booking operator. The smartphone user 6 may trigger a booking request by sending an SMS to an MSISDN that is advertised by the content originator 4, or by way of a request placed on a chat which is facilitated by the proxy server 2. The request may take the form of, for example, a text message asking for a service in natural language, such as “I want to book a holiday”.
With additional reference to the schematic of Figure 2 and flow chart of Figure 3, the re-direct transaction comprises determining a content request from a smartphone user (step S1). As previously stated, the content request may take the form of an SMS request message, or a request placed via the chat site, or placed via other over-the-top (OTT) messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.
At step S2, the proxy service 2 communicates a URL to the smartphone user 6 in a response sent over the same communication channel via which the content request was received. The response may also include contextual information for the smartphone user 6, such as “to access the requested content, please visit: https://securetxt.io/eidj78”. It will be understood that the URL could be generated prior to receiving the content request (i.e. whereby it has a predefined association with a particular handset capability and content page). Alternatively, the URL could be generated on demand and thereafter linked by the proxy service 2 to a user and/or content identifier. Irrespective of the timing and technique
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 .
for link allocation, the content associated with the URL (and optionally user identifier) is stored in a data store.
In response to the smartphone user 6 accessing the web resource (step S3), the proxy service 2 determines the smartphone user 6 and/or requested content from a look up in the data store of the corresponding unique URL used to access the web resource in the data store (step S4). The proxy service 2 additionally determines one or more handset capabilities for the requesting smartphone (step S5). The handset capabilities may be inferred, for example, by an evaluation of the UserAgent string included in the request header for accessing the unique URL. In a particular embodiment, the handset capabilities include one or more of which application types are supported, e.g. Android Instant Apps or Apple Universal Links. In an alternative embodiment, the web resource could be configured to query the user for determining the handset capabilities, e.g. by asking the user “What type of phone are you using? Android? iOS?”. In yet another embodiment, the handset capabilities could be determined from the initial content request where the digital medium via which the request is received facilitates an inference thereof.
At step S6, the proxy service 2 communicates re-direct code to the requesting smartphone. The re-direct code is generated/selected based on the determined user/content and handset capabilities. In one embodiment the re-direct code contains instructions executable by the smartphone for invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the smartphone user. In one embodiment, the re-direct code includes an executable link to the relevant portion of the mobile application for presenting the requested content is determined from an evaluation of the database 13. The link may be, for example, a Universal Links link (see URL: https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/General/Conceptual/AppSearch/ UniversalLinks.html), or an Instant Apps link (see URL: https://support.qooqle.com/qooqleplay/answer/7240211 ?hl=en), depending on the operating system of the smartphone determined.
At step S7, the smartphone 6a receives and automatically executes the re-direct code, causing the relevant portion of the mobile application to be invoked and the requested content subsequently displayed as in-app content within the relevant portion of the mobile application.
2019100103 31 Jan 2019 .
Alternative Embodiments and Further Technical Description
Although preceding embodiments described the proxy service 2 as an intermediary, it will be understood that the proxy service 2 could be implemented directly by the content originator 4 (i.e. as opposed to being implemented as a third-party service).
It will be understood that the proxy service 2 could act as an intermediary for any number of subscribing content originators 4 and smartphone user 6. As described herein, the user 6 implements a mobile device takes the form of a smartphone. It will be understood, however, that any network enabled mobile device (e.g. tablet computer, laptop with mobile broadband, etc.) could be utilised.
The hyperlink included in the acknowledgement message may take on different forms. For example, the hyperlink may be a text-based link. In other embodiments of the invention, the hyperlink may be an image or video. The hyperlink may also be accessed in numerous ways depending on the device used to access said unique hyperlink. For instance, the hyperlink may be selected using a finger on a touch screen, a keypad entry, using a stylus etc.
Access to the hyperlink may also be tracked. This could provide advantageous data for the content originators 4. For example, the content originator 4 would know which smartphone user 6 interacted with the electronic content even if no action were taken.
As previously discussed, embodiments as described herein could be combined with the two-pass token-based authentication methodology as outlined in co-pending Australian provisional patent application No. 2018101015. Thus, during the first pass the device 6a may be both assigned a token and registered for biometric authentication (i.e. in response to replying to the first request message). During the second pass, the device 6a must pass both the token and biometric authentication tests before being proxied to the secure web resource.
9.
2019100103 31 Jan 2019
In this specification, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of”. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise, comprised and comprises where they appear.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of this application.
The preceding description is provided in relation to several embodiments which may share common characteristics and features. It is to be understood that one or more features of any one embodiment may be combinable with one or more features of the other embodiments. In addition, any single feature or combination of features in any of the embodiments may constitute additional embodiments.
In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the inventions, and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.
Furthermore, whilst the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.

Claims (8)

  1. Claims
    1. A method for delivering electronic content to a user of a mobile device, comprising:
    determining a request for in-app content by a user of the mobile device, the request being received via a digital communications channel;
    sending a response to the user’s smartphone via the digital communications channel, the response containing a unique URL to a site maintained by a proxy service and wherein the unique URL is associated with at least one of (a) an identifier for the user; and (b) an identifier for the requested content;
    responsive to the mobile device accessing the URL, the proxy service:
    determines the user and/or requested content from an evaluation of the unique URL;
    determines one or more mobile device capabilities for the requesting mobile device; and communicates re-direct code that is based on the determined user/content to the requesting mobile device, the re-direct code containing instructions executable by the mobile device for invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the mobile device user.
  2. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the re-direct code comprises instructions for smartphone to download the specified portion of the mobile application via an API call.
  3. 3. A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, further comprising inferring the one or more mobile device capabilities from code sent by the mobile device when accessing the site.
  4. 4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.
  5. 5. A method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising receiving an in-app content SMS request from the smartphone, the in-app content request being sent to an MSISDN
    11 .
    2019100103 31 Jan 2019 maintained by the proxy service and wherein receipt of the in-app content SMS triggers the determination for in-app content.
  6. 6. A method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising determining the request for in-app content based on a predefined response given by the user in an online conversation.
  7. 7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the online conversation is facilitated by a chatbot.
  8. 8. A system for delivering electronic content to a mobile device user, the system comprising:
    a proxy service configured to:
    determine a request for in-app content by a user of the mobile device, the request being received via a digital communications channel; sending an response to smartphone over the same digital communications channel, the response containing a unique URL to a site maintained by a proxy service and wherein the unique URL is associated with at least one of (a) an identifier for the user; and (b) an identifier for the requested content;
    responsive to determining that the mobile device has accessed the site, determine the user and/or requested content from an evaluation of the unique URL;
    determine one or more device capabilities for the requesting mobile device; and communicate re-direct code to the requesting mobile device, the re-direct code being based on both the determined user/content and device capabilities, and containing instructions executable by the mobile device for invoking a specified portion of a mobile application that presents the in-app content to the mobile device user.
AU2019100103A 2018-02-12 2019-01-31 A system and method for delivering in-app content using mobile messaging Active AU2019100103A4 (en)

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AU2018900436A AU2018900436A0 (en) 2018-02-12 A system and method for delivering in-app content using mobile messaging
AU2018900436 2018-02-12

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3907631A4 (en) * 2020-03-13 2022-05-04 Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd Applet processing method and apparatus, device and storage medium
US11809903B2 (en) 2020-03-13 2023-11-07 Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Mini program processing method, apparatus, device and storage medium

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3907631A4 (en) * 2020-03-13 2022-05-04 Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd Applet processing method and apparatus, device and storage medium
US11809903B2 (en) 2020-03-13 2023-11-07 Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Mini program processing method, apparatus, device and storage medium

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